Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 13: Germany has announced a visa-free transit facility for Indian passport holders travelling through its airports, a move expected to significantly ease international travel for Indian nationals and further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The decision was announced in the India–Germany joint statement issued on Monday following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s official visit to India from January 12 to 13. This marked Merz’s first visit to India and also his maiden trip to Asia after assuming office as Federal Chancellor.

Under the visa-free transit facility, Indian travellers transiting through German airports en route to third countries will no longer be required to obtain a separate transit visa. The measure is expected to make travel smoother, faster and less paperwork-intensive.

“The step will not only facilitate and ease travel of Indian nationals, but will further intensify people-to-people links,” the joint statement said, adding that both leaders reiterated that strong people-to-people ties form a vital pillar of the India–Germany Strategic Partnership.

Both sides welcomed the growing exchanges of students, researchers, skilled professionals, artists and tourists, and acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Indian community to Germany’s economy, innovation and cultural life. They also underlined the need to expand cooperation in education, research, vocational training, culture and youth exchanges to deepen mutual understanding.

The two countries also welcomed initiatives supporting the integration of Indian students and graduates into the German job market, along with stronger institutional linkages between Indian Institutes of Technology and German technical universities. Both sides agreed to develop an Indo-German Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited leading German universities to establish campuses in India under the New Education Policy.